D♯ diminished 7th chord on piano
D♯dim7 is a diminished 7th chord built on D♯. It uses the notes D♯ - F♯ - A - C and sounds dramatic and suspenseful, the classic silent-movie villain chord. It is also written as E♭ diminished 7th.
- Notes
- D♯ F♯ A C
- Formula
- 1 - ♭3 - ♭5 - 𝄫7
- Right hand fingering
- 1 - 2 - 3 - 5
- Left hand fingering
- 5 - 3 - 2 - 1
- Chord symbol
- D♯dim7
How to play D♯dim7 step by step
- Find D♯. D♯ is the second black key in each group of two. The same key is also called E♭.
- Add F♯, 3 half steps above D♯.
- Add A, 6 half steps above D♯.
- Add C, 9 half steps above D♯.
- Press all 4 keys together with fingers 1 - 2 - 3 - 5 of your right hand. Keep your wrist level and let the weight of your arm do the work.
D♯dim7 inversions
An inversion uses the same notes in a different order. Inversions let your hand move less between chords, which is how pianists make chord changes sound smooth.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the D♯ diminished 7th chord?
The D♯ diminished 7th chord (D♯dim7) contains 4 notes: D♯, F♯, A, C. Its formula is 1 - ♭3 - ♭5 - 𝄫7.
How do you play D♯dim7 on piano?
Put your right-hand thumb on D♯ and play D♯, F♯, A, C together using fingers 1 - 2 - 3 - 5. With the left hand, use fingers 5 - 3 - 2 - 1.
Is D♯ diminished 7th the same as E♭ diminished 7th?
Yes. D♯ diminished 7th and E♭ diminished 7th use exactly the same piano keys. The name you see depends on the key signature of the piece.